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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will include in the decent homes standard the provision of sound insulation in domestic properties (a) constructed and (b) converted into flats and apartments. [139091] Keith Hill: The issue of noise insulation is already dealt with in the decent home standard. For a property to be considered decent it must meet four criteria one of which is the provision of reasonably modern facilities and services. A property fails to meet this criterion if it lacks three or more of a list of six facilities, one of which is `adequate noise insulation'. The guidance on implementing the standard concentrates on insulation from external airborne noise, such as traffic or factory noise. It has this focus because it can be difficult to assess the extent to which domestic noise nuisance is caused by problems with the building itself (either because of its construction or inadequate internal insulation) or by unreasonable activity or behaviour of neighbours or by acute noise sensitivity by the occupant of the home affected. The Decent Homes Standard applies to all social housing, including purpose built and converted apartments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

413 c816-7W; 139091

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Construction Building alterations Housing Insulation Flats Nuisance Pollution control Noise Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk